New Years Day

Our last day dawned with complete cloud cover and only 23 degrees. As soon as we opened our curtains at 6.30 am and realised this, we were up and out for an early morning walk. Across from the resort was a sandy track through the red dirt to a small hill with a lookout. There was a slight breeze and it felt good after the stifling dry heat of the past few days. First disaster of the day: I got a splinter in my thumb from one of the wooden benches up there.

We returned to Sails in the Desert via the Camping Site, thinking that it must be the very worst time of year in which to be in a tent or camper van. We were early to get into breakfast before the crowds and enjoyed selecting goodies from the generous buffet:

C watching the chef make a perfect omelette 

Complete with special bush-tucker relish

Afterwards we sat out on our balcony for the first time, watching the world go by. C had paid for a late checkout till 12.00 pm (extended from 10.00 am) for $100. By this time, we had become accustomed to the high cost of everything! This gave us plenty of time to have a swim, a shower and pack up without any rush. I even climbed up 3 flights of stairs to the resort’s own lookout tower:

The view of the rock is spoiled by the communications mast

Second disaster of the day: I must have entered the wrong combination and we were locked out of our safe, which contained my handbag and C’s purse. We had to get maintenance to come and open it for us. Then, third disaster occurred when (in our bathers) we were locked out of our room, since our keycard didn’t recognise our late departure booking!

Waiting in the lobby for our departure at 2.00 pm, I had a long conversation with Stephen Scourfield, the organiser of our tour. He is the Travel Editor of the West Australian newspaper and seems to be always away on trips, having just returned from 2 in India. I asked him how he could possibly edit the weekend travel supplement when he was away from the office. He pointed to his laptop and said everything is online. He receives about 50 emails a day, some from his readers, which he always answers. This weekend, he has been writing pieces non-stop, to be published in the next few weeks.

Stephen always wears his trademark Akubra hat

Finally, after a quick transfer to the airport, we were up and away with a last sight of Uluṟu in the distance:

No wonder we have been so hot!